Chapter 226: So Young, Yet Such a Temper

Chapter 226: Chapter 226: So Young, Yet Such a Temper

An hour later, Vesper Grayson felt sore all over. An overwhelming sleepiness washed over her, and her eyelids were so heavy she could barely keep them open. With a hint of lazy protest, she murmured softly.

"Darling, are you done yet..."

The man’s heavy breaths fanned across her ear. He leaned down and captured her soft lips, his voice husky and deep, thick with desire.

"Almost..."

"Ngh... I’m a little sore."

The moment the words left her mouth, a searing heat suddenly spread through her.

Vesper Grayson’s cheeks instantly flushed crimson. She shyly buried her face in the soft pillow, the tips of her ears turning red.

His low, sated chuckle by her ear made her blush so hard her entire body burned with embarrassment, and she wished she could just hide herself away.

She silently cursed herself for giving in so easily and letting him have his way.

Jared Hawthorne gently cleaned them both up before pulling her back into his arms, his warm palm resting softly on her lower abdomen.

"Go to sleep."

They had originally planned to head back this afternoon, but due to the unexpected incident of Bella Thorne falling into the water, they had no choice but to stay another night on Moonlight Isle.

Vesper found a comfortable position snuggled in his embrace. She nuzzled against his warm chest as sleepiness washed over her again, and she slowly closed her eyes.

Just as she was drifting off, a series of urgent knocks sounded at the door, followed by the anxious voice of Tristan Forrester.

"Jared, Miss Grayson, are you asleep?"

Vesper instantly became more alert. "It’s Mr. Forrester," she whispered.

Jared’s brow furrowed. He gently patted her back to soothe her.

"I’ll go see what it is."

He threw on a dark robe and went to open the door.

The dim light of the corridor highlighted Tristan Forrester’s tense expression. Jared spoke in a low voice.

"What’s wrong?"

"Is Miss Grayson asleep?"

"She just fell asleep."

Worry was etched across Tristan Forrester’s features. "Justine’s suddenly come down with a high fever that won’t break. She’s delirious and talking nonsense. I’m at my wit’s end and was hoping to ask Miss Grayson to come take a look at her."

Jared was puzzled. "Why would she suddenly get a fever?"

’Bella Thorne was the one who fell in the water and got a fright yesterday. Why would Justine Hughes, who was perfectly fine, suddenly develop a fever?’

"Her chronic condition flared up this evening. It eased a bit after she took some painkillers, but then she suddenly spiked a high fever. I think it’s from her burned arm getting infected." Tristan Forrester explained, a helpless look on his face. "I didn’t want to disturb you, but Miss Grayson is the only one on the whole island with medical expertise."

"Wait here, I’ll go get her."

Jared closed the door, went back inside, and turned on a warm lamp.

Vesper had already heard their conversation and was sitting up in bed. She’d understood every word.

"If you don’t want to go, I’ll turn him down for you."

Vesper calmly got up and smoothed out her clothes. "Mr. Forrester came all the way here to ask in person," she said with a faint smile. "It would be too heartless of me not to go."

When they entered Justine Hughes’s room, she was lying on the bed, her face flushed and feverish. Many of the blisters on her burned arm had burst, and the wound was red, swollen, and inflamed. She was muttering deliriously.

Vesper leaned closer to listen and faintly heard a name: "Tyson."

She lowered her eyes. ’Looks like Miss Hughes still hasn’t forgotten her old flame, Mr. Forrester.’

’Bonnie’s worries weren’t baseless after all.’

’She wouldn’t be happy either if another woman was still pining for her husband.’

After treating Justine’s wound, Vesper looked up at Tristan, who stood nearby.

"Did she take any fever reducer?"

"She did, but it hasn’t taken effect."

"How long ago did she take it?"

"About half an hour ago."

"The medicine needs time to take effect. Her high fever is from an infection caused by the ruptured blisters." Vesper took out her silver needles, her movements deft and practiced. She precisely inserted them into several acupoints known to reduce fever. "I’ll use acupuncture to help bring her fever down. Then have someone give her a sponge bath with alcohol for physical cooling."

When she was done, she gave careful instructions.

"Keep an eye on her for an hour. If the fever still doesn’t break, we’ll have to try something else."

"Okay, I’ll have someone see to it," Tristan Forrester nodded.

"Don’t mention it, Mr. Forrester." Vesper paused before asking softly, "By the way, has Bonnie’s fever broken?"

Tristan froze. He hadn’t been back to their room yet, so he had no idea if Bonnie’s fever had broken.

Seeing his reaction, Vesper understood everything perfectly.

"Mr. Forrester, Bonnie is your wife."

Although it wasn’t her place to say anything, she couldn’t resist reminding him.

Tristan’s expression grew somber. "I know," he replied in a low voice.

Vesper said no more and turned to Jared, who was standing beside her.

"Darling, I’m going to check on Bonnie. You go back to the room first."

After saying that, she turned and walked toward Bella Thorne’s room.

The door was ajar, evidently left open for someone.

The room was silent. A single dim wall lamp cast a warm glow over everything.

Bella Thorne was lying peacefully in bed, a fine layer of sweat on her forehead. She was sleeping soundly.

Vesper gently felt her forehead. Her temperature was back to normal; the fever had completely broken.

Fever reducers and anti-inflammatories sat on the nightstand. ’The dose has clearly been taken,’ Vesper thought. ’She must have taken it herself before falling asleep.’

Looking at Bella’s tranquil sleeping face, Vesper sighed inwardly.

’It’s always the sensible ones who get neglected. Her own husband was at another woman’s side, yet here she was, sleeping peacefully.’

She quietly backed out of the room. When she turned, she saw a tall, upright figure leaning against the wall.

"Didn’t I tell you to go back to the room first?"

"I was worried, so I waited to walk back with you. How is she?" Jared stepped forward and naturally took her hand.

"Her fever’s gone. She should be fine."

...

「The next day at first light」

Bella Thorne slowly blinked her sleepy eyes open. The heavy, aching feeling was gone. After a night of deep, dreamless sleep, she felt completely refreshed.

She instinctively glanced to her side, and her gaze fell unexpectedly upon an incredibly handsome sleeping face.

Tristan Forrester was sleeping with his eyes closed, his profile sharp and defined. The morning light softened his refined features, lending them a gentle warmth that made him too handsome to look away from.

Bella had always been drawn to good looks. She’d fallen for him at first sight, captivated by his impeccable features.

’When did he come back?’

’I thought he would have stayed with Justine Hughes.’

Just then, the man’s eyes, which had been closed, suddenly opened, revealing their deep, dark depths.

"How are you feeling?"

"Fine," Bella said, looking away toward the white ceiling. "Is Miss Hughes doing any better?" she asked nonchalantly.

"She should be fine."

His warm palm came to rest gently on her smooth forehead, and Bella’s body instinctively stiffened.

"Your fever had already broken by the time I came back last night," Tristan said in a low, slow voice, as if deliberately explaining himself. "I’ll take you to the hospital for a full check-up when we get back this morning."

’His words were clearly telling her he hadn’t stayed with Justine all night.’

Bella’s long lashes fluttered. A storm of complicated emotions churned inside her; she couldn’t tell if she felt happy or just relieved.

"Her getting burned really had nothing to do with me. She’s the one who didn’t hold the bowl steady."

’She had to make some things clear. She hated being wrongly accused.’

Tristan’s brow furrowed. "If you hadn’t pushed her, how could she have lost her grip and spilled the bowl of soup?"

When he’d rushed over yesterday, he’d seen Bella raise her hand and make contact with Justine, which was what caused the accident.

"I did touch her, but not hard enough to make her..." Bella took a deep breath. "Forget it. You wouldn’t believe me anyway."

’She had touched Justine. That one fact made it impossible to argue her case.’

’Maybe Justine was just so weak she couldn’t even handle that little bit of force?’

"I’m not blaming you," Tristan said in a heavy tone. "But the fact remains that she got hurt because of you. That’s undeniable."

"Yes, it’s a fact. But just because someone’s hurt doesn’t make them the innocent party. Tell her to stay away from me. She shouldn’t come up to me acting all concerned with her phony pleasantries."

Bella threw back the covers and furiously started to get out of bed.

Before her feet could touch the floor, a strong hand gripped her wrist tightly.

The world spun, and in the next instant, she was caught off guard, pinned firmly beneath Tristan.

Bella struggled, trying to push him off, but the difference in strength between them was too great. She couldn’t budge him an inch.

"Tristan Forrester, let me go! Even if I was in the wrong, I will never, ever apologize for this!"

Tristan leaned over her, his hand coming up to gently grip her delicate chin. The look in his eyes was dark and unreadable. "So young," he murmured, "but what a temper."